Help Defeat Florida HB 451 MSN

I'm not so happy about spay neuter things because they don't do anything...I agree ith a LOT of the points you made above.

But this bill provides exceptions, so I do not see that "bloodlines could become extinct" or things like that...I do not see your point on that issue. It isn't that difficult just to register the dog. And they have passes for show dogs sporting dogs, dogs earning titles, etc....perhaps I am reading this incorrectly?

Although I'm totally with you on the fact that this is a badly written bill, it is a bit misleading to imply that it is going to erase bloodlines by forcing breeders/showers/etc to speuter their breeding stock.

 The governing body of a county or municipality is 57 authorized to enact ordinances that require the licensure of the 58 following animals that shall be exempt from sterilization:

59 1. A show animal registered with an established breed 60 registration organization approved by the Division of Animal 61 Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.62 The department shall adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 63 to administer this subparagraph.

64 2. A dog or cat that has earned, or is in the process of 65 earning, a competitive sports or training title, including, but 66 not limited to, agility, obedience, or herding.

67 3. An animal trained, or in training, for use as a guide 68 dog or service animal.

69 4. A dog trained, or in training, for use in law 70 enforcement, military, or rescue activities.

71 5. An animal for which the owner has a valid breeding 72 permit issued in accordance with an ordinance of the county or 73 municipality.

whtsthfrequency

I'm not so happy about spay neuter things because they don't do anything...I agree ith a LOT of the points you made above.

But this bill provides exceptions, so I do not see that "bloodlines could become extinct" or things like that...I do not see your point on that issue. It isn't that difficult just to register the dog. And they have passes for show dogs sporting dogs, dogs earning titles, etc....perhaps I am reading this incorrectly?

Although I'm totally with you on the fact that this is a badly written bill, it is a bit misleading to imply that it is going to erase bloodlines by forcing breeders/showers/etc to speuter their breeding stock.

 The governing body of a county or municipality is 57 authorized to enact ordinances that require the licensure of the 58 following animals that shall be exempt from sterilization:

59 1. A show animal registered with an established breed 60 registration organization approved by the Division of Animal 61 Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.62 The department shall adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 63 to administer this subparagraph.

64 2. A dog or cat that has earned, or is in the process of 65 earning, a competitive sports or training title, including, but 66 not limited to, agility, obedience, or herding.

67 3. An animal trained, or in training, for use as a guide 68 dog or service animal.

69 4. A dog trained, or in training, for use in law 70 enforcement, military, or rescue activities.

71 5. An animal for which the owner has a valid breeding 72 permit issued in accordance with an ordinance of the county or 73 municipality.

First of all, it states that all dogs must be altered by four months of age or withing 30 days of acquiring the dog. There is no such thing as a four month old show dog. It may be a show prospect. But they cannot compete until they are a minimum of six months old.

Likewise there is no such thing as a four month dog police dog, performance dog etc. Or a four month old that is part of a breeding program.

Furthermore it mandates surgical procedures. Responsible owners of pets already make these decisions. Responsible owners of performance, show and breeding prospects already take due care of their animals.

The law provides for no enforcement. In fact it cannot be enforced without violating the civil rights of the citizens of the state. Those that are irresponsible will not abide by the law anyway. I am a little over fourty years of age, lived in Florida all of my life, and own multiple dogs for most of my life. My dogs are out in public a all the time. Daily on walks, at parks, dog events, stores and anywhere elsee dogs are welcomed. I have NEVER been asked to provide proof of my dogs license or vaccination records. I have signed statements that my dogs are current on vaccinations and licensing when entering events, but I have yet to be asked. And my dogs have not worn a county license tag on their collars in probably 20 years. I don't leave a buckle collar on my dogs. When out I most often use a Martindale or other slip on collar. I keep the actual tags in my wallet and a copy of  the paper license in my vehicles, my wife's purse, my show bag etc. Just in case I am ever asked to provide proof. But I have not been asked as of yet. The county sends me a renewal every year which I take to the vet with me when I get their annual shots. The vet sends it in and I get the tag at that time. But other than that it never comes up. Frankly I am convinced that the counties have no idea what is going on anyway. In 2005 my wife(then fiance) moved in with me. She had resided in a neighboring county. The first year the renewal on her dog was forwarded to our address here. We got his annual shots and license for this county with my vet. Then sent the form back to the other county marked that the dog now resides outside of that county and even sent a copy of the new license for this county. I know they got it because they updated the address. But we still get a renewal notice from that county every year. I had a dog pass away from AIHA(sp?) in early 2007. I sent the renewal notice back deceased. I acquired a new puppy in the summer of 2007. I got his license when all his shots were done in the fall of 2007. I got NO renewal notice in 2008. But I did get a second renewal on the deceased dog. I sent it back again marked deceased.

I also took in a rescue that I had no intention of keeping in 2005. (I did so because it was going to get put down.But it was a heck of a nice dog and I wanted to buy it some time.) I got the dog up to date on shots and licensed in my name. It took me until 2007 until I found a good home for the dog. I had licensed it twice in my name. I placed the dog in 2007 shortly before its shots were due and the license came up for renewal. When I placed the dog I told the new owner that I was paying for the annual vaccines and license. I KNOW they did it because they were taking it to a vet I know and I gave my credit card over the phone while they were there. The new owners changed the dogs name and had it licensed in their name. I sent the 2007 renewal back as having given the dog away. I got a 2008 renewal form that I ended up just throwing away.

Frankly I do not think they know what dogs are out there and who owns them and what their status is.

If they do not enforce county license laws, what makes anyone think they will be able to enforce this? I could have gone without licensing my dogs for 20 years and never been caught. Those that are irresponsible will fly right under the radar as they already do.